Joel Boldenow

Joel Dean Boldenow passed away on Friday, October 4th after a brief but aggressive battle against pancreatic cancer.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30AM on Friday, October 18, 2024 at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo. A luncheon will be held at the Montevideo American Legion following the service. 

Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service to be held at 6:45PM. Visitation will continue on Friday one hour prior to services at the church. 

Joel was born on December 17th, 1948 in Graceville, MN to Herbert and Dena (Thompson) Boldenow. He was baptized on May 8th, 1949 at Eidskog Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN and was confirmed on June 2nd, 1963 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio, Minnesota. He attended elementary country school in rural Chokio near the Boldenow's family farm and graduated from Chokio High School in 1966. Joel was an all-state football player.

Joel attended Moorhead State College from 1966-1968 and then enlisted in the United States Navy. He proudly served on the U.S.S. Seattle where he was a Radar Specialist until he completed his service in January of 1973. Joel returned to college at the University of Minnesota, Morris and graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1976. He later earned his Masters of Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and thus cheered for the Pitt Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the Golden Gophers, the Vikings, and the Montevideo Thunderhawks. He loved watching college football games. 

Joel met the love of his life, Jane Alter Collins, on the Greek island of Mykonos in March of 1972 while the U.S.S. Seattle was deployed in the Mediterranean and Jane was traveling with her sister. They continued their friendship while Joel was stationed in Norfolk, VA and Jane was working in Washington, D.C. 

Joel and Jane married at Jane’s family home in Natrona Heights, PA, on April 7th, 1973. They were united in a loving marriage of over 50 years. They lived in Chokio and Morris, MN while completing their teaching degrees and made life-long friendships with other Veterans and their spouses during this period. Joel worked for the Department of Natural Resources in the Morris area during the summers of 1974-75 and for the Youth Conservation Corps in the Benson area during the summer of 1976. He later became a certified crop hail adjuster. These jobs incorporated both of his passions of nature and teaching.

Joel began his teaching career with the Montevideo School District in the Fall of 1976. He taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders and coached 8th grade football. Joel was honored to be Teacher of the Year in 1990-1991. He was active in the Montevideo Education Association as President, Treasurer, and Chief Negotiator. He retired in 2008. He was also a mentor of confirmation students at Salem Lutheran Church. Some former students and mentees have said that ‘Mr. B’ made a lasting impact on their lives. 

Joel's passions of Nature and Conservation stemmed from his upbringing on the family farm and these passions were passed on to his children, grandchildren, and others. Joel had a strong connection with the land and Native American values. He respected the Earth and believed in conservation practices which would leave it a better place. He had a love for farming, fishing, and hunting. He also enjoyed golfing, a sport learned from his teaching mentor Bob Mills. 

Joel was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church and served on various committees, was Council President and was active in the Men's Bible Study Group and Salem Churchmen. He was a member of the Montevideo American Legion Post 59, Pheasants Forever, and Ducks Unlimited. He loved the outdoors and especially the family lake property ‘Paradise Point,’ on Artichoke Lake.

Joel is survived by his loving wife Jane; two children: Ellie (and Benjamin) Bjorklund of Wayzata and Joshua (and Shelley) Boldenow of Chaska; granddaughters Ariel and Macie, and grandson Ayden; a brother, Jan (and Janet) Boldenow of Victoria, MN and a sister, DeAnna Skilbred of Hermitage, TN; sisters-in-law Judith Taylor of Valencia, PA, Ann Collins of The Villages, FL, Mary Louise (and Bob) Dayton of Sarver, PA, Elizabeth Ferrard of Edinburgh, Scotland and Kathleen Collins of Natrona Heights, PA; brothers-in-law Glenn Collins and Neil (and Irena) Collins of Natrona Heights, PA; as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and many special friends. 

Preceding him in death were his parents, Herbert and Dena Boldenow, Jane's parents, Robert A. and Louise Collins, and brothers-in-law Dave Taylor, Robert J. Collins, Christopher Ferrard, Daniel Skilbred, and Waku Yokoh; grandparents Henry and Louise Boldenow and Magnus and Anna Thompson. 

Joel was taken from us too soon. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. Blessed be his memory. 

To further Joel’s love of teaching and education, memorial donations will be directed to a Scholarship Fund.